Senior Traci Liberi Set Two Indivdual Season Bests Saturday

NIAGARA UNIVERSITY, N.Y. – The Niagara University women’s swimming and diving team (4-3, 3-1) won their third and fourth-straight meets Saturday as they defeated Canisius (0-6) 180-49, and Siena (3-2) 124-112.

The Purple Eagles pulled ahead of Canisius early, but continued to battle Siena throughout the meet. Entering the 13th and final event, Niagara led the Saints by only three points. Needing a strong finish, the Purple Eagles called upon two verterans and two rookies to help secure their fourth victory of the season. Freshmen Mariah Glass (Oswego, N.Y./Oswego) and Kelly Kennedy (York, N.Y./York Central), teamed with junior Jody Pangburn (West Seneca, N.Y./West Seneca East) and senior Traci Liberi (Rochester, N.Y./Churchville-Chili) to take first place in the 200 yard freestyle relay. The team won the event by seven seconds, posting a season-best time of 1:43.06.

Liberi was among the top performers of the meet, also setting season bests in the 50 free (24.93) and 100 free (54.57). Other winners on the day were Kaitlin DiDonato (Massapequa, N.Y./Massapequa) in the 1,000 free in 11:23.06, Christen Kane (Lockport, N.Y./Lockport) in the 200 butterfly in 2:21.97, and the 200 medley relay team of Heather Link (Wheatfield, N.Y./Niagara Wheatfield), Karolina Bazylewicz (Buffalo, N.Y./Hutch Tech), Jody Kennis (North Tonawanda, N.Y./North Tonawanda) and Kennedy in 1:54.53.

The Purple Eagles look to keep their winning streak alive as they compete Nov. 13 in a three-team dual meet against Manhattan and Canisius at the Oxy Aquatic Center located on the Monteagle Ridge campus.